Patti North 11/10/25 Patti North 11/10/25

Alexandria Film Festival Announces “Best of Fest” and Other Award Winners for 2025 Festival Films

The Alexandria Film Festival announced its slate of 12 award winners last night at an awards ceremony that concluded its 19th annual festival. The festival drew record attendance to venues across the city of Alexandria. More than 60 films were screened – half of which were made by filmmakers in the DMV (District, Maryland, Virginia).

“What made our awards ceremony extra special this year was the number of filmmakers who were present and won awards,” remarked Jill Ray, chair of the festival. Half of this year’s awards went to local filmmakers. (Links below provide more information on each winning film.)

Best of the Region - “The Other You” directed by Shoshana Rosenbaum
Best Animated Short - “Reverse” directed by Kaustav Mukherjee
Best Short Documentary - “Gun Show” directed by Richard Chisolm

Best Comedy - “Welcome to America, Brian Wong!” directed by Kevin Nibley
Best Cinematography - “Sitka’s Hidden Wonders” directed by Ben Hamilton
Independent Spirit Award - “Pretty Ugy” directed by Andrea Palombella
Special Jury Prize - “No Choice” directed by Nate Hilgartner
Best Foreign Language Film - “Comparsa” directed by Vickie Curtis and Doug Anderson
Best Emerging Filmmaker Award - “The Woman with a Name or Two” directed by Andrew Chi Nguyen
Best Narrative Short - “Baby Brother” directed by Harold Batista
Audience Award - “Kemba” directed by Kelley Kali (note: Kali previously won a Best of Fest award in 2021 for her film “I’m Fine (Thanks for Asking)”)
Joe Cantwell Award for Excellence in Documentary Filmmaking - “Tiananmen Tonight” directed by Michael Streissguth and Bestor Cram
Best of Fest - “Igniting the Spark - The Story of ‘Magic: The Gathering’” directed by Kelly Slagle and Brian Stillman

Best of Region Award “The Other You” - Kimberly Skyrme, producer/casting director; Shoshana Rosenbaum, director; Jill Ray, AFF chair; Robin Noonan Price, producer; Chris Colligan, AFF vice chair. Location: Ted’s Montana Grill, Alexandria, VA. Photo by Randy McCracken

Audience Award “Kemba” - Chris Colligan, AFF vice chair; Kemba Smith, film’s subject; Kelley Kali, director; Jill Ray, AFF chair. Location: Ted’s Montana Grill, Alexandria, VA. Photo by Randy McCracken

The Alexandria Film Festival is made possible with support from the Alexandria Commission for the Arts and the City of Alexandria, as well as the generous support of individual donors and corporate sponsors including: Adobe; Alexandria Gazette Packet and Connection Newspapers; Alexandria Hyundai; Alexandria Living Magazine; Alexandria Times; Bad Ass Coffee; Briar Tek; Burke & Herbert Bank; Conte’s Bike Shop; Continues Arcade; Charter Up; Hadeed Rug Cleaning; Hotel Heron; Jet’s Pizza; Jim Connolly/Long & Foster Real Estate; Law Office of Deborah Matthews; Matt & Tony’s All Day Kitchen and Bar; Old Town Crier; Patagonia Old Town, St. Elmo’s Coffee Pub; Ted’s Montana Grill; Union Sandwich Co.; Virginia Tech; Visit Alexandria; Wegmans; and The Zebra.

About the Alexandria Film Festival

The Alexandria Film Festival brings high-quality short and feature-length films of all genres, filmmaker panels, and arts presentations to the port city of Alexandria, Virginia and the greater DCmetro-area.The festival highlights the talents of local, national and international filmmakers in an acclaimed travel destination within eyesight of the nation’s capital. For more information visit www.alexfilmfest.com.

Patti North 11/4/25 Patti North 11/4/25

Alexandria Film Festival Offers Complimentary Tickets to Federal Government Workers Impacted by the Shutdown

The Alexandria Film Festival (AFF) has announced it will offer federal government workers impacted by the shutdown complimentary tickets to films in its program, November 7-9, at venues in Alexandria. The new ticketing policy is in effect for on-site, box office sales only. The festival will issue one ticket per worker with government ID as long as tickets are still available.

ALEXANDRIA, VA – The Alexandria Film Festival (AFF) has announced it will offer federal government workers impacted by the shutdown complimentary tickets to films in its program, November 7-9, at venues in Alexandria. The new ticketing policy is in effect for on-site, box office sales only. The festival will issue one ticket per worker with government ID as long as tickets are still available.

“AFF is proud to stand with other arts organizations in the region in supporting our friends and neighbors who have been impacted by the shutdown,” said Jill Ray, chair of the festival. “We believe the arts help build community, foster social cohesion and drive local change. It’s incredibly important the festival remains as inclusive and accessible as possible.”

More than 60 films will screen at the 19th annual Alexandria Film Festival. Half of the films in this year’s program are made by local filmmakers. Nearly 50 filmmakers will be in attendance to talk about their films and engage with audiences. The full program is available at https://afffilmsthatmatter2025.eventive.org/welcome.

###

About the Alexandria Film Festival

Patti North 10/31/25 Patti North 10/31/25

Alexandria Film Festival and Patagonia Old Town Host Two Festival Screenings, November 2 and 7

The Alexandria Film Festival has teamed up with Patagonia Old Town to screen two documentaries as part of its 19th annual festival. At the November 7 event, festival sponsor Conte’s Bike Shop in Old Town Alexandria, will give away a new Cannondale Hybrid bike valued at $900.

Festival Sponsor Conte’s Bike Shop Donates Cannondale Bike to Give Away at November 7 Event

ALEXANDRIA, VA – The Alexandria Film Festival has teamed up with Patagonia Old Town to screen two documentaries as part of its 19th annual festival. At the November 7 event, festival sponsor Conte’s Bike Shop in Old Town Alexandria, will give away a new Cannondale Hybrid bike valued at $900.

Kicking off the festival on Sunday, November 2 at Patagonia Old Town is “Upstream, Downriver: Uniting for Water Justice,” an hour-long documentary that takes viewers into the heart of the battle for water justice. Powerful stories with frontline activists are interwoven with historical context about landmark regulations that reduced water pollution in the U.S. but failed to serve disadvantaged communities hardest hit by today’s climate crisis. A Q&A follows the screening with Director Maggie Burnette Stogner moderated by Anacostia Watershed Society Board Member Jim Connolly. Doors open at 6 pm with the film at 6:30 pm.

Play Trailer

Buy Tickets

“Fifteen years after its acclaimed first screening at the Alexandria Film Festival, we are delighted to bring this award-winning documentary back,” said Jill Ray, chair of the festival, about the November 7 special anniversary screening of “Ride the Divide” at Patagonia Old Town.

The 80-minute documentary is the story of a grueling mountain bike ride along the Rocky Mountains from Banff, Canada to the Mexican border. The film has gone on to become an iconic tale about grit, determination, and the extremes man can endure. A Q&A with filmmakers Hunter Weeks, Joe Cantwell and pro cyclist Reuben Kline follows the screening. Conte’s Bike Shop, a festival sponsor, is donating a new Cannondale Treadwell 2 as a giveaway at the film screening. Only ticket-holding attendees are eligible to win.

Play Trailer

Buy Tickets

“We’re incredibly grateful to Patagonia Old Town and Conte’s Bike Shop for their generous support,” added Ray.

“Upstream, Downriver” and “Ride the Divide” are two among 60+ films in this year’s Alexandria Film Festival. All-festival passes ($80) and film screening tickets ($15) are available for purchase online at https://afffilmsthatmatter2025.eventive.org/welcome.

The Alexandria Film Festival is made possible with support from the Alexandria Commission for the Arts, the City of Alexandria, as well as the generous support of individual donors and corporate sponsors including: Adobe; Alexandria Gazette Packet and Connection Newspapers; Alexandria Hyundai; Alexandria Living Magazine; Alexandria Times; Bad Ass Coffee; Briar Tek; Burke & Herbert Bank; Conte’s Bike Shop; Continues Arcade; Charter Up; Hadeed Rug Cleaning; Hotel Heron; Jet’s Pizza; Jim Connolly/Long & Foster Real Estate; Law Office of Deborah Matthews; Matt & Tony’s All Day Kitchen and Bar; Old Town Crier; Patagonia Old Town, St. Elmo’s Coffee Pub; Ted’s Montana Grill; Union Sandwich Co.; Virginia Tech; Visit Alexandria; Wegmans; and The Zebra.

###

About the Alexandria Film Festival
The Alexandria Film Festival brings high-quality short and feature-length films of all genres, filmmaker panels, and arts presentations to the port city of Alexandria, Virginia and the greater DC metro-area.The festival highlights the talents of local, national and international filmmakers in an acclaimed travel destination within eyesight of the nation’s capital. For more information visit www.alexfilmfest.com.

Patti North 10/27/25 Patti North 10/27/25

Alexandria Film Festival Features Award-winning Films from Sundance, SXSW, and Tribeca at 19th Annual Event in November

The Alexandria Film Festival (AFF) is bringing to audiences in the DMV feature narrative and documentary films that premiered at the nation’s top film festivals, including one that is in contention for an Academy Award. AFF kicks off November 2 and continues November 7-9 at venues across the city. Tickets ($15) for these films as well as 60 others are available now for purchase online at https://afffilmsthatmatter2025.eventive.org.

“Brother Verses Brother,” “Checkpoint Zoo,” “Dragonfly,” and Oscar-contending “Coexistence, My Ass!” Among Films to be Screened

ALEXANDRIA, VA – The Alexandria Film Festival (AFF) is bringing to audiences in the DMV feature narrative and documentary films that premiered at the nation’s top film festivals, including one that is in contention for an Academy Award. AFF kicks off November 2 and continues November 7-9 at venues across the city. Tickets ($15) for these films as well as 60 others are available now for purchase online at https://afffilmsthatmatter2025.eventive.org.

“Brother Verses Brother” - 11/8, 7 pm, Virginia Tech (ALX) - Buy Tickets

Play trailer

Executive produced by Francis Ford Coppola and directed by four-time Sundance filmmaker Ari Gold, this single-take musical film premiered at SXSW and is based on the director’s own family – and performed by them. It’s a funny and moving story about the power of music, the bonds of brotherhood, and the life of a city – experienced by the viewer in real-time.

“Checkpoint Zoo”- 11/7, Noon, Virginia Tech (ALX) - Buy tickets

Play trailer

This documentary, which was executive produced by Leonardo DiCaprio and premiered at Tribeca, tells the story of the harrowing rescue of thousands of animals that were trapped inside Kharkiv’s Feldman Ecopark zoo amid the war in Ukraine. “This is a film about the unintended victims of war that you don’t quite see,” says filmmaker Joshua Zeman.

“Dragonfly” - 11/7, 9 pm, the Lyceum - Buy tickets

Paul Andrew Williams’ genre-defying British film, which also had its debut at Tribeca, features Oscar-winning actresses Brenda Blethyn and Andrea Riseborough who were jointly awarded the performance award at the festival. A heartbreaking and tense narrative about forgotten people, this film is unsettling and challenges preconceptions.

“Coexistence, My Ass!” - 11/7, 3 pm, Virginia Tech (ALX) - Buy tickets

Play trailer

Premiering at Sundance, this film by Lebanese director Amber Fares went on to win the festival’s World Cinema Documentary Special Jury Award for Freedom of Expression and the Golden Alexander Award for Best Documentary at the Thessaloniki International Documentary Festival in Greece, qualifying it for Oscar consideration. Shot over five tumultuous years, the film traces Israeli activist-comedian Noam Shuster Eliassi’s personal, professional, and political journey in tandem with the region’s steady deterioration.

###

About the Alexandria Film Festival

Patti North 10/27/25 Patti North 10/27/25

Highlighting Women’s Voices at 2025 Film Festival

Every year, the Alexandria Film Festival screens independent films highlighting diverse perspectives and experiences. The 19th Annual Festival, to be held November 7-9, 2025, features more than 60 films telling the stories of people in a wide variety of professions and roles: Comedians, musicians, military members, and zookeepers. Mothers, neighbors, siblings, and spouses.

Here we introduce you to four filmmakers who explored women’s stories and voices in either short or feature-length films screening at the 2025 festival.

Note: Filmmakers’ answers were edited for length and clarity.

Roser Corella, “Kickoff” (77 mins., documentary)

Information and screening time

What was your inspiration for this project?

We were struck by the transformative power of sport. Through football (American soccer), Gazi and the women of Kök-Tash find a voice that defies expectations and fosters social change. As they train and compete, they discover strength, self-worth, and community. This is a story of defiance, love, and women refusing to be confined by societal roles. We hope their journey will encourage others to believe in the possibility of transformation, no matter the obstacles.

What did you enjoy most about shooting this film or putting this project together?

While filming, we were guests at the house of Gazi, the organizer of the tournament. Her whole family became our crew: the teenage nephew was our fixer, and his mother turned into our producer on the ground. Every evening after dinner, family meetings doubled as production meetings where we planned the next day’s shooting. Of course, the plan was usually turned upside down the next morning—like when someone suddenly invited us to a wedding! We felt truly welcomed, and their support and collaboration were essential to making this film possible.

Do you have a behind-the-scenes story fans would love to hear?

Since we came from Berlin, even though we are Spanish and Italian, in the village we were known as ‘the Germans.’ Every time we entered someone’s home, they proudly showed us their new fridge or washing machine, saying with a smile: ‘This is German!’

Zulian Tjuatja, “Masks” (3 mins., drama)

Information and screening time

Note: Zulian will participate in a Q&A following the film screening.

What was your inspiration for this project?
I've been traveling to Japan every year for the last 10 years and have been studying Japanese for ~5 years. One day, my teacher and I were discussing the societal constructs that shape public-facing behavior in Japan, especially what lies beneath once one peels away said constructs. That discussion sparked the idea that eventually became the screenplay for Masks.

Why did you want to become a filmmaker?

Two reasons: first, of all artistic mediums, I feel that film is the one that is best suited for probing into life's most profound truths. Second, as an Asian American man who has struggled with finding role models, making my own films is a way for me to create my own representation.

Do you have a behind-the-scenes story fans would love to hear?

My Japanese teacher plays the masked woman's coworker, and her husband plays the boss. In the scenes where he speaks to the masked woman, he is actually speaking Turkish (he is fluent in Japanese, but I thought him speaking in his native language looked more fluid), as I just needed some footage of him lecturing/regaling her. It took me 10 minutes to get roughly 30 seconds of workable footage because they were friends and wouldn't stop laughing.

Nathan Hilgartner, “No Choice” (95 mins., drama)

Information and screening times

Note: Nathan will participate in a Q&A following the film screening, along with producer Shannon Semler, and actors Hannah Deale, Maria Prudente, and Robert Denzel Edwards

What was the inspiration for this project?

Like many people, I was shocked by the Supreme Court decision overturning Roe v. Wade. Even in this time of regression and reaction, I didn’t expect that essential rights would be rolled back so quickly and decisively. As always, we know that injustice falls unevenly: women from states with abortion bans can travel to get care only if they have the money, the job flexibility, the social support. So I imagined a young woman, living in poverty, working at a low wage job, struggling to get an education and build a better life. I imagined her getting pregnant and knowing that a baby would put an end to her hopes and dreams. I imagined her troubled relationship with her mother, her frightening encounters with the harsh treatment that healthcare and legal systems visit on the most vulnerable. Having imagined this character, I became frightened for her. Her life and situation seemed like a living nightmare. Then, hitting on this idea of a waking dream, I wondered “what are her dreams telling her when she’s asleep?” Our dream life is one of the places we find truth. I have always dreamed vividly, and I believe that cinema as a medium owes much to dreams. This vision of a real-world nightmare is the kernel of the film.

Do you have a behind-the-scenes story fans would love to hear?

This is my first feature film. We wrapped production just a year after I first had the idea for the script. Because we had a very tight timeline and a truly tiny budget, I realized that the only way we would be able to pull it off was to shoot it in my hometown, Ithaca, New York, where we had friends, neighbors, and connections to the local acting community. We shot using mostly borrowed equipment on sets we hammered together inside an out-of-business grocery store. The roof of the building where we shot the film was leaky, and we feared a heavy rain would flood our sets and ruin our equipment! We spent a lot of time trying to waterproof the building, with limited success. Fortunately, some more experienced folks helped us fix the problem.

What are you most excited about for your film screening at the AFF?

We are living in confused and frightening times. People are angry – many of them, justifiably. In part, NO CHOICE comes from that place of anger, sounding the alarm over a terrible injustice. Yet the crucial question is what should we do with that anger? I don’t think it’s enough for people to get angry and shout at their screens. So if this film makes people mad, I hope that they will carry that anger forward into action and organize, strategize, and demand change. Audiences in the DC area are among the most politically-engaged in the country and I hope they will respond to the film's urgency.

Shoshana Rosenbaum, “The Other You” (78 mins., dramedy)

Information and screening time

Note: Shoshana will participate in a Q&A following the film screening, along with producers Julie Gold and Kimberly Skyrme, and cinematographer Anne Saul

Why did you want to become a filmmaker?

As a writer and visual artist, I love how filmmaking brings both elements together. I also love that making a film is a group effort that brings the talents of many kinds of artists together to make something collaboratively. It's a wonderful experience to make a piece of art as a collective.

What did you enjoy most about shooting this film or putting this project together?

The energy: much of the filmmaking team met through Women in Film and Video-DC, and many of us have made projects together previously, so the set was female-dominated and grounded in warm artistic relationships. Many of us are also moms, and moms know how to get things done! Because this is a comedy, we had wonderful comic actors on set and we laughed a lot. We also had an infusion of youthful energy due to our three young actors and a bevy of fantastic college interns. We worked very hard to shoot a feature in 18 days and we had a great time doing it.

Do you have a behind-the-scenes story fans would love to hear?

We shot this film in the summer, and most of us are from the area, so we knew we would be dealing with heat and thunderstorms. However, we didn't anticipate racing to the basement with our equipment during multiple tornado warnings, or arriving on set early one morning to find the whole block had no electric power due to downed trees. Thanks to the amazing can-do attitude of our cast and crew, we pivoted and shot only exterior scenes that day, supported by our producer Kimberly Skyrme turning her car into a mobile office with a printer, equipment charging station, and hair and make-up station—complete with a hair dryer!

Patti North 10/20/25 Patti North 10/20/25

“Tiananmen Tonight” Screens at Alexandria Film Festival

The Alexandria Film Festival will screen the feature documentary “Tiananmen Tonight” – a powerful story of truth-telling directed and produced by Bestor Cram and Michael Streissguth – on Sunday, November 9 at noon at Virginia Tech (ALX).

Documentary Examines the Reporting at Tiananmen as a Pinnacle of Broadcast Journalism in Service to Democracy

Tiananmen Tonight Alexandria Film Festival

ALEXANDRIA, VA – The Alexandria Film Festival will screen the feature documentary “Tiananmen Tonight” – a powerful story of truth-telling directed and produced by Bestor Cram and Michael Streissguth – on Sunday, November 9 at noon at Virginia Tech (ALX).

The film centers on the human drama of Dan Rather and the CBS Evening News team battling for life and reputation while courageously reporting the extraordinary 1989 student uprising that brought China to the brink of democratic reform.

In response to this student unrest in Beijing, Rather and the CBS News team raced to China ahead of the media crush to inform an anxious American public about China’s unfolding demonstrations, emerging student leadership, and bloody confrontations while fending off government censors and coping with the brutal arrest of a star reporter.

Says Peter Keough of the arts fuse online magazine, “Cram and Streissguth combine riveting archival footage and illuminating interviews with those involved, including Rather and other CBS personnel as well as student participants in the struggle. They also do not shy away from pointing out that it wasn’t idealism that motivated the network’s decision to cover the uprising, but the corporate bottom line. The result was a boon for CBS, a momentary boost for the movement, and a devastating, enduring crackdown on freedom in China. Would the cause have been better served had CBS ignored it?”

PLAY TRAILER>>

Following the screening, Gordon Lubold, national security reporter for NBC News, will moderate a Q&A discussion with Cram, Streissguth and Tom Bettag, former executive producer of the CBS Evening News and ABC’s Nightline.

All-festival passes ($80) and film screening tickets ($15) are available for purchase online at https://afffilmsthatmatter2025.eventive.org/welcome.

###

About the Alexandria Film Festival

Patti North 10/6/25 Patti North 10/6/25

Alexandria Film Festival to Showcase More than 60 Independent Films in November at Venues Across the City

ALEXANDRIA, VA – Today, the 19th annual Alexandria Film Festival announced it will screen more than 60 films starting Sunday, November 2, and continuing Friday through Sunday, November 7-9, at venues across the city including Virginia Tech (ALX) in Potomac Yard, The Alexandria History Museum at the Lyceum, Patagonia Old Town, and Charles E. Beatley Library. Tickets ($15) and All-Festival Passes ($80) are on sale now at the festival’s Eventive website (afffilmsthatmatter2025.eventive.org).

Films by Local Filmmakers Comprise Half of Program

Press Release | October 6, 2025 | Contact: Casie Graham | 301-873-3052 | grahamcasie@gmail.com

The 62 films in this year’s program span a variety of genres and topics ranging from serious social issues to crowd-pleasers. Half of the films were made by local filmmakers who will be in attendance at the festival to participate in Q&A discussions following their film screenings. Additionally, 70 percent of the films are having premieres at this year’s festival including 15 world and U.S. premieres and 14 DMV – District, Maryland and Virginia – premieres.

Among the “local” feature films in this year’s program:

11/2 at Patagonia Old Town – Kicking off the festival, the documentary “Upstream, Downriver: Uniting for Water Justice” by Maggie Burnette Stogner, executive director of the Center for Environmental Filmmaking at American University in Washington, D.C., takes viewers into the heart of communities uniting for water justice.
11/7 at Virginia Tech (ALX) – “The Other You” is local filmmaker Shoshana Rosenbaum’s directorial debut. It follows writer, wife, and mom Annie as she discovers a tiny door in her closet that leads to what appears to be a better version of her life.
11/8 at The Alexandria History Museum at the Lyceum – “500 Fireflies” is a dramatic comedy set in the mid-1990s. The story of a newly single dad who brings his teenage daughter back to his rural hometown, hoping for a fresh start. Directed by Lysandra Petersson, it was filmed primarily in the Shenandoah Valley with local actors.
11/9 at Virginia Tech (ALX) – The narrative “Kemba” by Howard University alum Kelley Kali is based on Kemba Smith, a Virginia woman who was sentenced in the 1980s to nearly 25 years in prison for a drug case after she was misled by prosecutors and her case mishandled by her own attorneys. Her ordeal became a national referendum on the unequal application of mandatory minimum sentencing that led to changes to the guidelines.

Chris Colligan, lead programmer and vice chair of the festival, said, “We are incredibly proud and excited to uplift and give a platform to the compelling stories that filmmakers across our region are producing. So spread the word that the Alexandria Film Festival is celebrating independents, especially those working and creating across the DMV!”

All films in the festival require admission tickets, except for the Salute to Service Members showcase/film block at The Alexandria History Museum at the Lyceum on November 9 which is free for active duty and retired service members and their guests. All-festival passes ($80) and showcase tickets ($15) are available for purchase online at afffilmsthatmatter2025.eventive.org/welcome.

The Alexandria Film Festival is made possible with support from the Alexandria Commission for the Arts, the City of Alexandria, as well as the generous support of individual donors and corporate sponsors including: Adobe; Alexandria Gazette Packet and Connection Newspapers; Alexandria Hyundai; Alexandria Living Magazine; Alexandria Times; Bad Ass Coffee; Briar Tek; Burke & Herbert Bank; Conte’s Bike Shop; Continues Arcade; Charter Up; Cheesetique; Franconia Family Medicine; Hadeed Rug Cleaning; Hotel Heron; Jet’s Pizza; Jim Connolly/Long & Foster Real Estate; Law Office of Deborah Matthews; Matt & Tony’s; Old Town Crier; St. Elmo’s Coffee Pub; Ted’s Montana Grill; Total Wine; Union Sandwich Co.; Virginia Tech; Wegmans; and The Zebra.

###

Patti North 10/1/25 Patti North 10/1/25

Showcasing Emerging Filmmakers at the 19th Annual Festival: Teairrah Green, “Shadows of the Past”

Here, we introduce one of the emerging filmmakers whose documentary will be screened on Friday, November 7, at 6:00 p.m. in our “Emerging Filmmakers I” showcase: Teairrah Green, “Shadows of the Past”…

The 2025 Alexandria Film Festival, to be held November 7-9, will screen nearly a dozen films by emerging filmmakers in two showcases at The Treehouse, located at the Virginia Tech Innovation Campus in Potomac Yard. The films span continents and genres, telling stories from Africa, Asia, and North America as documentaries, dramas, science fiction, and animated shorts.

Here, we introduce one of the emerging filmmakers whose documentary will be screened on Friday, November 7, at 6:00 p.m. in our “Emerging Filmmakers I” showcase. The second showcase will be held on Saturday at the same time and location.

Note: Filmmakers’ answers have been edited for length and clarity.

Teairrah Green, “Shadows of the Past” (26 mins., documentary)

Screening times and information

What was your inspiration for this project?

The film was born out of a desire to give the erased history of the Herero and Nama genocide the visibility and reverence it deserves. Today, the Joint Declaration between Germany and Namibia [that would officially recognize the genocide] continues to be excluded from serious German legislative discourse. I hope this film helps reignite public and media attention.

What did you enjoy most about shooting this film or putting this project together?

The most meaningful part was connecting with people in Namibia. Sharing meals and conversations after interviews gave us insights that reshaped our understanding, moving us from abstract politics to the lived experiences of those most affected.

Do you have a behind-the-scenes story fans would love to hear?

While filming, we were spontaneously invited to record a car interview with poet-activist Jephta U. Nguherimo. On winding dirt roads, I twisted in every direction with the camera as he pointed out the landscape—transforming the car into an impromptu moving set.

What are you most excited about for your film screening at the AFF?

I’m excited for AFF audiences to learn about the Herero-Nama genocide and to spark dialogue around a history too often excluded from public conversation. My hope is that this screening inspires reflection and brings wider recognition to this important story.

View Screening times and information for “Shadows Of The Past” here.

Patti North 9/30/25 Patti North 9/30/25

Showcasing Emerging Filmmakers at the 19th Annual Festival: Gabriel Kuenzli, “Aloha Lahaina Aloha”

Here, we introduce one of the emerging filmmakers whose documentary will be screened on Friday, November 7, at 6:00 p.m. in our “Emerging Filmmakers I” showcase: Gabriel Kuenzli, “Aloha Lahaina Aloha” (59 mins., documentary)…

Note: Filmmakers’ answers have been edited for length and clarity.

Gabriel Kuenzli, “Aloha Lahaina Aloha” (59 mins., documentary)

Screening times and information

What inspired this project?

My inspiration was my belief in hope and community. When I saw the news about the August 2023 wildfire in Lahaina on Maui, I immediately had an idea on how to help. I wanted to do more than just focus on the tragedy and loss; I wanted to focus on what made Lahaina special before the fire and what makes it special still.

What did you enjoy the most about creating the film?

I enjoyed meeting people and hearing their stories. Whether it was behind the camera in interviews or casually talking at bars or in the car, listening to their experiences and building connections and friendships was my favorite experience. It was so powerful and insightful to be given permission to see their world, even if it was just for a moment.

What is one challenge that you had to overcome?

Halfway through this production, two-thirds of my major interview subjects canceled on me. I was crushed. This was a solo funded and produced project, and I didn't know what I should do next. That night, after having a dark night of the soul moment, I decided I was going to give it my best shot and make it work. And now, even after that massive setback, I am here with a featured documentary.

What are you most excited about for your film screening at the AFF?

I'm excited for the opportunity to showcase it in front of other members of the filmmaking community and the industry. This is my first festival I will be attending, so being able to receive feedback and meet like-minded people is a blessing I never thought I'd get to experience.

View Screening times and information for “Aloha Lahaina Aloha” here.

David Griffin 9/17/25 David Griffin 9/17/25

Alexandria Film Festival to Host Screenings at Virginia Tech

The Alexandria Film Festival has partnered with Virginia Tech to screen films at the university’s Alexandria location in the Potomac Yard neighborhood as part of the 19th Annual Alexandria Film Festival. “We are thrilled and grateful to partner with Virginia Tech for our 19th annual festival,” said Jill Ray, chair of the Alexandria Film Festival. “The university’s new academic building in the Potomac Yard neighborhood is the perfect hub of festival activities this year. It’s metro-accessible, high-tech, and ultra-modern, offering multiple spaces for film screenings including the 300- capacity Boeing Auditorium.”

ALEXANDRIA, VA – The Alexandria Film Festival has partnered with Virginia Tech to screen films at the university’s Alexandria location in the Potomac Yard neighborhood as part of the 19th Annual Alexandria Film Festival.

“We are thrilled and grateful to partner with Virginia Tech for our 19th annual festival,” said Jill Ray, chair of the Alexandria Film Festival. “The university’s new academic building in the Potomac Yard neighborhood is the perfect hub of festival activities this year. It’s metro-accessible, high-tech, and ultra-modern, offering multiple spaces for film screenings including the 300- capacity Boeing Auditorium.”

“We are excited to support such an important cultural event in the region. Hosting the Alexandria Film Festival at Academic Building One reflects our commitment to making this building a hub for innovation, collaboration, and community,” said Lance Collins, vice president at Virginia Tech.

The 19th annual Alexandria Film Festival will kick off November 2 and continue November 7 - 9 at venues across the city of Alexandria including Patagonia Old Town, Beatley Library, the Alexandria History Museum at The Lyceum, and Virginia Tech (Alexandria campus). Look for the full slate of programming available soon on our website, alexfilmfest.com.

What: 19th Annual Alexandria Film Festival
When: November 2 and November 6 - 9
Where:
- Patagonia Old Town - 815 ½King Street
- Beatley Library - 5005 Duke Street
- The Lyceum - 201 S. Washington Street
- Virginia Tech Academic Building One - 3625 Potomac Ave

The Alexandria Film Festival is made possible with support from the Alexandria Commission for the Arts, the City of Alexandria, as well as the generous support of individual donors and corporate sponsors including: Adobe, Alexandria Gazette Packet and Connections Newspapers; Alexandria Hyundai; Alexandria Living Magazine; Alexandria Time ; Atlas Brew Works; Bad Ass Coffee; Briar Tek; Burke & Herbert Bank; Charter Up; Cheesetique; Delia’s Mediterranean Grill; Glory Days; Goodwin Living; Hadeed Rug Cleaning; Jim Connolly/Long & Foster Real Estate; Law Office of Deborah Matthews; Old Town Crier; Pond Roofing; Ted’s Montana Grill; Union Sandwich Co.; Virginia Tech; The Zebra; and Zen Business.

Questions about this press release? Contact: Casie Graham | 301-873-3052 / grahamcasie@gmail.com

Patti North 7/24/25 Patti North 7/24/25

Alexandria Film Festival Presents ‘The Great Divide’ on August 5 – National Night Out

On August 5, National Night Out, the Alexandria Film Festival will present the feature documentary 'The Great Divide' at The Lyceum in Old Town Alexandria (ticket price $15; doors open at 6:00 pm; screening at 6:30 pm). 'The Great Divide' explores America's gun culture by examining the country's history of violence, from its roots in Native American genocide and African American slavery to the modern day epidemic of mass shootings that we continue to collectively endure as a nation.

Screening of ‘The Great Divide’ (90 minutes) followed by a panel discussion

August 5 (doors open at 6:00 pm; screening at 6:30 pm)
The Lyceum at 201 S. Washington Street, Alexandria, VA
Tickets ($15) available online and at the door

ALEXANDRIA, VA – On August 5, National Night Out, the Alexandria Film Festival will present the feature documentary 'The Great Divide' at The Lyceum in Old Town Alexandria (ticket price $15; doors open at 6:00 pm; screening at 6:30 pm). 'The Great Divide' explores America's gun culture by examining the country's history of violence, from its roots in Native American genocide and African American slavery to the modern day epidemic of mass shootings that we continue to collectively endure as a nation.

"National Night Out, an annual event that encourages community members to come together to promote public safety, is a fitting date to screen this powerful film about gun culture in America," says festival Chair Jill Ray. Director Tom Donahue and Producer Ilan Arboleda will join the festival for an audience Q&A immediately following the screening. Donahue and Arboleda are award winning feature film, documentary, and television creators. Their films are often rooted in social disruption. For example, 'This Changes Everything,' which screened at the Alexandria Film Festival in 2019, grapples with the systemic discrimination against women in Hollywood.

“We made ‘The Great Divide’ to confront the painful truths behind America’s relationship with guns. We wanted to probe deeper than the headlines and understand the history of how we got to this place. I can’t think of a more meaningful time or place to screen the film than on National Night Out in a community so committed to civic engagement and dialogue. We’re grateful to the Alexandria Film Festival for opening this space for conversation,” says Donahue.

The Alexandria Film Festival is made possible with support from the Alexandria Commission for the Arts, the City of Alexandria, as well as the generous support of individual donors and corporate sponsors including: Alexandria Gazette Packet and Connections Newspapers; Alexandria Hyundai; Alexandria Living Magazine; Alexandria TImes; Atlas Brew Works; Bad Ass Coffee; Burke & Herbert Bank; Cheesetique; Delia’s Mediterranean Grill; Glory Days; Goodwin Living; Hadeed Rug Cleaning; Jim Connolly/Long & Foster Real Estate; Law Office of Deborah Matthews; Old Town Crier; Pond Roofing; Ted’s Montana Grill; and The Zebra.

Tickets

###

About the Alexandria Film Festival

Patti North 7/23/25 Patti North 7/23/25

"Greet Del Ray'" Magazine Featuring Patti North, Founder and Executive Director of the Alexandria Film Festival

Check out "Greet Del Ray'" magazine's August, 2025 cover story on Patti North, founder and executive director of the Alexandria Film Festival.

Patti North 6/24/25 Patti North 6/24/25

Alexandria Film Festival Names Officers to Lead Organization

ALEXANDRIA, VA – The Alexandria Film Festival, now in its 19th year, has named officers to lead the all-volunteer, non-profit organization for three-year terms starting July 1. Incoming chair Jill Ray, a filmmaker herself, served the past three years as festival vice chair and has had several documentary films in past festivals. Chris Colligan, a non-profit executive, who also heads programming for the festival, will become festival vice chair…

Festival founder and Executive Director Patti North notes, “We’re very excited to see Jill transition to chair and Chris take on the vice chair leadership role as we lock in our 2025 festival schedule and head into a new era of operations at MetroStage starting in 2026 – our 20th anniversary year. We are also pleased Dara Sanders will continue to support the festival as chair emeritus.”

Back in March, MetroStage and the Alexandria Film Festival announced that MetroStage would become the permanent home of the festival beginning in 2026. The festival is the first “In Residence” arts organization to share physical and calendar space with the professional theater company in their newly constructed space soon to open in North Old Town.

“Our alliance with MetroStage is a wonderful model for future complementary programming partnerships,” says Ray. “As chair, I look forward to forging more partnerships within the community that will allow us to expand our offerings through workshops, for example, and discussion forums.”

The Alexandria Film Festival celebrates the wide diversity of independent film - fictional narrative features and documentaries, and live action and animated shorts like the Academy Award winning ‘In the Shadow of the Cypress,’ which had its Virginia premier at our festival this past November. Adds Colligan, incoming vice chair, “We feature local and regional films - including those from student filmmakers - as well as entries from around the country and across the globe. I am honored to take on a greater leadership role on the cusp of our 20th anniversary.”

The Alexandria Film Festival is made possible with support from the Alexandria Commission for the Arts, the City of Alexandria, as well as the generous support of individual donors and corporate sponsors including: Alexandria Gazette Packet and Connections Newspapers; Alexandria Hyundai; Alexandria Living Magazine; Alexandria TImes; Atlas Brew Works; Bad Ass Coffee; Burke & Herbert Bank; Cheesetique; Delia’s Mediterranean Grill; Glory Days; Goodwin Living; Hadeed Rug Cleaning; Jim Connolly/Long & Foster Real Estate; Law Office of Deborah Matthews; Old Town Crier; Pond Roofing; Ted’s Montana Grill; and The Zebra.

###

About the Alexandria Film Festival

Patti North 3/17/25 Patti North 3/17/25

AFF to Make MetroStage’s New Theater Its Permanent Home in 2026

Two of Alexandria’s leading nonprofit organizations are joining forces to make the Old Town North Arts and Cultural District an exciting arts destination. Beginning in 2026, MetroStage’s new theater at 915 N. Fairfax Street will become the permanent home of the Alexandria Film Festival, a four-day event in November that presents the best independent features and short films curated from around the world.

Alexandria Film Festival to be “In Residence”

20th Anniversary Festival and More to Be Presented at New State-Of-The-Art Theatre in Alexandria’s Old Town North Venue Condominium Complex

ALEXANDRIA, VA – Two of Alexandria’s leading nonprofit organizations are joining forces to make the Old Town North Arts and Cultural District an exciting arts destination. Beginning in 2026, MetroStage’s new theater at 915 N. Fairfax Street will become the permanent home of the Alexandria Film Festival, a four-day event in November that presents the best independent features and short films curated from around the world. The Alexandria Film Festival is the first “In Residence” arts organization to share physical and calendar space with MetroStage, a model for future complementary programming partnerships.

The 20th edition of the festival, scheduled for November 5-8, 2026, will include a theater-centric slate of films jointly curated by AFF and MetroStage, with talent from both worlds participating in audience discussions and educational sessions. AFF may also host special film screenings and events at MetroStage throughout the year on a schedule to be determined.

MetroStage is in the final stages of its fundraising campaign to complete the buildout of the arts space provided by CarrAmerica at its Venue condominium complex at North Fairfax and Montgomery streets. The theater will be a state-of-the-art facility with 120 comfortable seats, excellent sightlines and acoustics, and film and video projection technology optimized for festival screenings.

“MetroStage in the Old Town North Arts District is the ideal home for the Alexandria Film Festival. It’s long epitomized excellence in the arts and its new facilities will be state-of-the-art for both theatre and film,” said AFF Executive Committee Chair Dara Sanders.

Carolyn Griffin, MetroStage Producing Artistic Director said: “We very much look forward to complementing our live theater offerings with select film presentations and the AFF is the perfect partner to curate, present, and connect films with the entire DMV audience. We are very excited to be the home of the annual Alexandria Film Festival and other film offerings throughout the year.”

Both organizations will participate in the annual Spring2Action fundraising campaign.

MetroStage:

https://www.spring2action.org/organizations/metrostage

Alexandria Film Festival: https://www.spring2action.org/organizations/alexandria-film-festival

ABOUT THE ALEXANDRIA FILM FESTIVAL

The Alexandria Film Festival brings high-quality short and feature-length films of all genres, filmmaker panels, and arts presentations to the port city of Alexandria, Virginia and beyond. The festival highlights the talents of local, national, and international filmmakers in an acclaimed travel destination within eyesight of the nation’s capital. It is made possible with support from the Alexandria Commission for the Arts, the City of Alexandria, and the National Endowment of the Arts, as well as the generous support of individual donors and corporate sponsors

ABOUT METROSTAGE
MetroStage presents a season of classic and contemporary plays and musicals, cabarets, and readings, chosen for their social, political, literary, and entertainment value. The collaborative work of professional artists results in productions and presentations representing the highest artistic standards. Work that will enlighten and enrich and always tell a compelling story. MetroStage presents original, challenging, innovative work and is committed to maintaining a diverse, equitable, fully inclusive environment on stage and off, with its work reflecting and embracing the diversity of the Washington metro population. The intimacy of its theatre and its multicultural productions offer both the audience and the artists a unique, powerful and memorable theatre experience.

Patti North 1/23/25 Patti North 1/23/25

"The Poppaw Queen" Film Screening Takes Place Feb. 21

BUY TICKETS

In honor of Black History Month, the Alexandria Film Festival will present The Poppaw Queen, a historical documentary directed by Malachi Elijah Robinson that chronicles the story of Mary Queen and her descendants' historic fight for freedom. Mary Queen, "The Poppaw Queen," was born in South America and illegally sold as an indentured servant in Maryland around 1715. In 1796, some of Mary Queen's descendants petitioned for their freedom in the courts of Maryland, D.C. and the U.S. Supreme Court on the claim that she was born a free woman. Many recovered their freedom while others did not and remained enslaved, some of whom were sold to support Georgetown University in 1838. The film honors her memory and explores the suppressed history of slavery in Maryland. A moderated Q&A with the film's director will follow the screening.

WHAT: The Poppaw Queen (90 mins) film screening followed by a Q&A with the film's director Malachi Elijah Robinson.

WHERE: The Alexandria History Museum at The Lyceum, 201 S. Washington Street, Alexandria, VA.

WHEN: Feb. 21; doors open at 6:00 pm; film at 6:30 pm. Tickets($15) available at Eventive.com and at the door.

Patti North 11/12/24 Patti North 11/12/24

Alexandria Film Festival Announces Festival Awards

ALEXANDRIA, VA—The Alexandria Film Festival (AFF) concluded its 18th annual program with the announcement of 13 awards to films and filmmakers in this year’s festival.

ALEXANDRIA, VA—The Alexandria Film Festival (AFF) concluded its 18th annual program with the announcement of 13 awards to films and filmmakers in this year’s festival.

Best of the Festival Award
“The Test,” directed by Claudia Myers and Laura Waters Hinson
Special Jury Award for Feature
“Out of My Comfort Zone,” directed by Ivy Vale
The Joe Cantwell Award for Documentary Excellence
“Paxson: A Home in Common,” directed by Jacob Boelman
Audience Award
“Love Dogs,” directed by West Eldredge
Best of the Region Award
“Pennies,” directed by Lena Louise Streitwieser and produced by Mary Beth Warner
Best Animated Film Award
“Velo Love,” produced by Nancy Breslin
Best Original Screenplay Award
“Written in Skin,” directed by Damian Wampler
Best Achievement in Exploration of Contemporary Issues Award
“Sometime, Somewhere,” directed by Ricardo Preve
Special Jury Award for Short Film
“Hindsight,” directed by Max Rykov
Best Fictional Short Award
“Tin Can,” directed by Pat Battistini
Best Emerging Filmmaker Award
“From Ashes to Beauty: Stories After Incarceration,” directed by Mabel Malhotra
Best Achievement in Innovative Filmmaking Award
“Always Already,” directed by Ken Sackheim
Best International Film Award:
“Hate Songs,” directed by Alejo Levis

“As we bring the 18th annual Alexandria Film Festival to a close, we are thrilled and honored to be able to celebrate these filmmakers and their resonant stories with this slate of awards,” said Dara Sanders, chair of the Alexandria Film Festival. “We thank all the filmmakers who participated in this year’s festival, our partners, donors, sponsors, and dedicated volunteers, and also the audiences who attended the festival and engaged in meaningful conversation with the filmmakers.”

Photos of some (but not all) of the award winning filmmakers pictured with Alexandria Film Festival Chair Dara Sanders:
www.flickr.com/photos/124804644@N04/albums/72177720321876668/

###

About the Alexandria Film Festival

Now in its 18th year, the Alexandria Film Festival brings high-quality, independent, short and feature-length films of every genre, to the City of Alexandria each November and intermittently throughout the year. The festival is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization supported by a grant from the Alexandria Commission for the Arts, as well as the generosity of volunteers, numerous individuals and corporate sponsors.

Patti North 10/15/24 Patti North 10/15/24

Alexandria Gazette Packet Publishes Series on Alexandria Film Festival

Alexandria Gazette Packet writer Shirley Ruhe interviewed festival organizers and filmmakers to create a four-part series on the Alexandria Film Festival, now in its 18th year…

Alexandria Gazette Packet writer Shirley Ruhe interviewed festival organizers and filmmakers to create a four-part series on the Alexandria Film Festival, now in its 18th year. Read the combined series below or view the PDF by clicking here.

Patti North 10/5/24 Patti North 10/5/24

ALEXANDRIA FILM FESTIVAL TO SHOWCASE INDEPENDENT FILMS ABOUT BELONGING, LOVE, RESILIENCY, HOPE, AND EMPOWERMENT

ALEXANDRIA, VA—The Alexandria Film Festival (AFF) announced it will screen nearly 60 films in person starting November 3 with a kick-off screening at Patagonia Old Town, and continuing November 7-10, at the Northern Virginia Community College (NOVA) Alexandria Campus Auditorium, The Alexandria History Museum at the Lyceum and Charles E. Beatley Library.

Nearly 60 films selected for this year’s festival November 3 and 7-10, 2024

Created by a diverse group of local and international artists, the films represent a variety of genres and tackle topics ranging from serious social issues like immigration and racism to crowd-pleasers like drama, romance, animation, comedy, and horror. More than 30 of the films are premieres, and over 30 filmmakers will be in attendance for Q&A panels following their films.

Kicking off the festival, the documentary “Running Home: Michael Wardian’s Journey Across America” followsultra marathoner Wardian as he runs 3,000 miles from California to Delaware. Sunday, 11/3 at Patagonia.
In the animated story “In the Shadow of the Cypress,” a father and daughter, unable to connect with one another due to his PTSD-induced fits of rage, must deal with a stranger who suddenly enters their lives. Friday, 11/8 at Beatley Library.
In the suspense thriller “CROOKEDFINGER,” Maria returns home following the deaths of her parents, and strange things start happening afterthe arrival of her volatile brother and his girlfriend. Saturday, 11/9 at The Lyceum.
Set in NYC, the musical “Out of My Comfort Zone” tackles real teen issues like bully culture and the struggle for acceptance for the LGBTQ+ community and others who feel left out - while keeping toes tapping throughout. Saturday, 11/9 at The Lyceum.
In the dark comedy “Gloomy Roomie,” Zola thinks she’s found the perfect apartment except that one of her new roommates might actually be undead. Saturday, 11/9 at NOVA.
Documentary “District of Second Chances” shares the experiences of three formerly incarcerated men who, thanks to new laws in Washington, D.C., have the opportunity to change their lives in positive ways. Sunday, 11/10 at NOVA.

Chris Colligan, lead programmer for the festival, remarked, “We are incredibly excited to support the premieres of dozens of really well-made films this year. The fact that filmmakers are clamoring to screen at the Alexandria Film Festival speaks to its geographic reach across the region and the City of Alexandria’s draw as an arts community.”

All films require tickets, except for the Salute to Service Members showcase/film block at Beatley Library on November 9 which is free for active and retired service members and their guests. All-festival passes ($80) and showcase tickets ($15) are available for purchase online. Visit www.alexfilmfest.com for more information.

###

About the Alexandria Film Festival

The all-volunteer, non-profit Alexandria FIlm Festival brings high-quality short and feature-length films, documentaries, filmmaker panels, and arts presentations to the port city of Alexandria, Virginia and beyond. The festival highlights the talents of local, national, and international filmmakers in an acclaimed travel destination within eyesight of the nation's capital. The festival is made possible with grant funding from the National Endowment for the Arts, the City of Alexandria and the Alexandria Commission for the Arts, as well as the support of individual donors and corporate sponsors including Goodwin Living, Burke & Herbert Bank, Matt & Tony’s All Day Kitchen, Glory Days Grill, Jim Connolly, Realtor, Deborah Matthews, Esq., Cornelissen Brewery, Atlas Brew Works, Alexandria Hyundai, Hadeed Carpet Cleaning, Cheesetique, and Ted’s Montana Grill.